The Political Reform Act of 1974 provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing, including requiring the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures, as defined, and imposing other reporting and recordkeeping requirements on campaign committees, as defined. The act requires every committee to have a treasurer.
The act requires certain committees to file a statement of organization that includes, among other information, the full name, street address, email address, and telephone number of the treasurer. An existing regulation adopted by the Fair Political Practices Commission permits these committees to designate one assistant treasurer on the statement of organization.
This bill would require a treasurer or assistant treasurer identified on the statement of organization to sign
a separate statement acknowledging that, by serving as a treasurer or assistant treasurer, the person must comply with duties imposed by the act and existing regulations adopted by the Commission and that a violation of these duties could result in criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. The bill would require that the statement of acknowledgment be filed with the Secretary of State at the same time as the statement of organization or an amendment identifying a new treasurer or assistant treasurer.
A violation of the act is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act’s purposes upon a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements.
This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.